An outbreak of Shigella-related illness has occurred in the homeless community of Santa Clara County, California. Bacteria.
The Santa Clara County Public Health Department has issued guidelines regarding transmission and provided data on the current scope of the outbreak.
Ten people experiencing homelessness in Santa Clara County have tested positive for Shigella, according to public health officials. 22 people are suspected of being infected.
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A homeless camp in San Jose, Santa Clara County, California. (Aric Clubb/MediaNewsGroup/East Bay Times via Getty Images)
Officials say the outbreak has been linked to the Guadalupe River, which flows downstream from Highway 85, and is concentrated among the local homeless community.
“People who have come into contact should avoid swallowing water and should wash with soap and water before eating or touching their face,” the health department said in its guidelines.
“Staff from partner organisations who may come into contact with water from the river near the campsite have been advised to wear personal protective equipment,” it added.
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A photo provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the colony morphology of Shigella boydii bacteria grown on the surface of Hectoen Enteric (HE) agar. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
Shigella is normally present in stool, and infection can cause a variety of symptoms including fever, abdominal pain, and bloody stools.
Infection can spread through sexual contact, sharing drinking containers, or caring for someone who is sick.
Dehydration is a significant risk for people with Shigella infection (bacillary dysentery), and infected people are encouraged to drink plenty of fluids throughout the illness.
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Santa Clara public health officials say parts of the Guadalupe River have been contaminated with Shigella bacteria, which is spreading among local homeless people. (Michael Maloney/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
Shigella outbreaks have also occurred in other US cities with large homeless populations.
Portland, Oregon, According to Multnomah County health officials, 227 cases of Shigella infection were recorded in 2023. Of those, 45 occurred in December alone.
